Career Center

The Director of Programming and Booking is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping the artistic direction, booking strategy, and earned revenue performance of the Carson Center.

As the Carson Center enters a new phase of leadership and organizational focus, this role is central to moving the organization from reactive programming and short-term deal making toward a more intentional, data informed, and mission aligned approach to booking and season planning.

This role owns the programming ecosystem. The successful candidate will balance artistic vision, community relevance, and financial responsibility while building a clear and sustainable booking strategy that strengthens audience trust and drives long term attendance growth.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director of Programming and Booking operates with significant authority and accountability. The role requires sound judgment, market awareness, and the ability to make decisions that align artistic ambition with financial reality.

This is a strategy driven, revenue accountable role that values clarity, discipline, and audience connection as much as artistic instinct.

Primary Responsibilities

Programming Strategy and Artistic Direction

• Develop and lead a cohesive programming strategy that reflects the Carson Center’s mission, community, and long term sustainability goals.
• Build balanced seasons that integrate touring Broadway, concerts, family programming, community focused offerings, rentals, and strategic partnerships.
• Evaluate programming opportunities using both qualitative judgment and quantitative analysis, including historical performance, audience trends, and financial projections.
• Ensure programming decisions are aligned with capacity, staffing, and operational readiness.

 Booking and Contracting Leadership

• Lead all artist booking activity, including deal negotiation, contract terms, deposits, and settlement structures, in partnership with finance and operations.
• Establish clear booking criteria and approval processes that balance risk management with creative opportunity.
• Maintain active relationships with agents, promoters, producers, and touring partners to ensure competitive access to high quality programming.
• Manage the full programming pipeline from initial inquiry through contract execution and performance settlement.

 Earned Revenue and Performance Accountability

• Own earned revenue projections tied to programming activity, including ticket sales, ancillary revenue impact, and pricing strategy.
• Collaborate with marketing and box office leadership to align programming strategy with sales plans, audience development efforts, and pricing structures.
• Monitor show performance in real time and adjust strategies as needed to mitigate risk and maximize return.
• Provide clear reporting on programming performance, trends, and season level outcomes to the Executive Director and Board.

 Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with marketing to ensure programming narratives are authentic, strategic, and aligned with audience expectations.
• Partner with operations and production leadership to ensure technical, staffing, and scheduling requirements are clearly defined and feasible.
• Collaborate with advancement and community engagement leadership to align programming with donor engagement, sponsorship opportunities, and community partnerships.
• Ensure internal communication around programming decisions is timely, transparent, and well coordinated.

 Leadership and Organizational Presence

• Serve as a visible artistic and strategic leader within the organization and the broader performing arts community.
• Contribute to building a culture that values preparation over heroics and systems over last minute problem solving.
• Support Board engagement in programming discussions by providing clear context, rationale, and performance insights.
• Demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when navigating high visibility relationships and decisions.

Qualifications

• Progressive professional experience in programming, booking, presenting, or related performing arts leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success balancing artistic vision with financial accountability.
• Strong understanding of touring markets, deal structures, and performance economics.
• Experience working in performing arts centers or similar presenting organizations strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trust internally and externally.
• Bachelor’s degree required. 

Technical Skills

• Experience with ticketing and programming systems required. Experience with Tessitura strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data, performance trends, and financial projections.
• Proficiency with standard office and collaboration tools.